'''Hopa''' (Laz: Xopa; Georgian: ხოფა; Armenian: Հոպա; Russian: Хопа; also known as Khupati, Khopta, or Khopa) is a [[Black Sea]] coastal city in the [[Artvin]] province of [[Turkey]] with a population of 14,350. Aside from being home to a substantial number of ethnic Laz, Muslim Georgians, and Turks, it is also home to many [[Hamshen|Hamsheni]] Armenians who have retained their unique dialect of Armenian known as Homshetsi or Homshetsma. They form the majority of the population in and around the town of Kemalpaşa (named obviously after [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]).

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'''Hopa''' (Armenian: Հոպա; Georgian: ხოფა; Laz: Xopa; Russian: Хопа; also known as '''Khopa''', '''Khupati''', or '''Khopta''') is a small [[Black Sea]] coastal city in the [[Artvin]] province of [[Turkey]] with a population of 14,350 and a small port. It is the last major location in Turkey on the Black Sea coast road before entering the [[Georgia|Georgian]] autonomous region of [[Adjara]]. The Georgian village of [[Sarpi]] is located immediately north of the Turkish border and [[Batumi]] is not far off.

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Today, Hopa is one of the most diverse cities in Turkey with a mixed population of Turks, Laz, Georgians, and many [[Hamshen|Hamsheni]] Armenians who have retained their unique dialect of Armenian known as Homshetsi or Homshetsma. They form the majority of the population in and around the town of Kemalpaşa (named obviously after [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]).

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Hopa is the only municipality in Turkey controlled by the leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP). Cancer is a problem here due to fall-out from the Chernobyl disaster across the Black Sea in [[Ukraine]].

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==External links==

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* [http://www.hetq.am/eng/interview/539/ Interview with Sergey Vardanyan about Hamsheni Armenians in Hopa on HETQ]

[[Category:Western Armenia]]

[[Category:Western Armenia]]

Latest revision as of 14:48, 12 April 2008

Hopa (Armenian: Հոպա; Georgian: ხოფა; Laz: Xopa; Russian: Хопа; also known as Khopa, Khupati, or Khopta) is a small Black Sea coastal city in the Artvin province of Turkey with a population of 14,350 and a small port. It is the last major location in Turkey on the Black Sea coast road before entering the Georgian autonomous region of Adjara. The Georgian village of Sarpi is located immediately north of the Turkish border and Batumi is not far off.

Today, Hopa is one of the most diverse cities in Turkey with a mixed population of Turks, Laz, Georgians, and many Hamsheni Armenians who have retained their unique dialect of Armenian known as Homshetsi or Homshetsma. They form the majority of the population in and around the town of Kemalpaşa (named obviously after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk).

Hopa is the only municipality in Turkey controlled by the leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP). Cancer is a problem here due to fall-out from the Chernobyl disaster across the Black Sea in Ukraine.